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Bohemia (Rapper) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth15 October 1979

BirthplaceKarachi, Sindh, Pakistan

ProfessionSinger, Rapper, Musician

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSunny David

FamilyOne sister, parents (father worked at Pakistan International Airlines)

Bohemia (Rapper) Biography

Roger David, known professionally as Bohemia or Raja, is a Pakistani-American rapper, songwriter, poet and record producer credited with pioneering Punjabi

Early life and background
Roger David was born on 15 October 1979 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, into an ethnic Punjabi-Christian family. His childhood included time in Lahore and around seven years in Peshawar before his family emigrated to the United States when he was in his early teens. The family settled in the Mission District of San Francisco. His mother died of cancer when he was 16.

He grew up in a household influenced by multiple faith traditions: his family kept both a Bible and a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, reflecting a Sikh ancestor in the family line. His father worked for Pakistan International Airlines. David began learning music from his father and started writing Punjabi poetry while still a teenager. He sometimes played keyboards at local South Asian events and wrote songs and poetry primarily in Urdu and Punjabi.

Career
Bohemia left formal schooling and took a job at a recording studio in Sacramento, pursuing music full time. He toured with a group of musicians across the United States and Canada, performing gigs and living modestly while building his craft.

A move to Oakland brought a pivotal encounter: at a West Oakland studio where his cousin worked, he met hip-hop producer Sha One. After reciting a Punjabi piece he had written, he was invited to rap over a beat. Over the following months he wrote lyrics that became his independent debut album, Vich Pardesan De (In The Foreign Land), a record that narrates the experience of a South Asian youth adapting to life in the U.S.

Vich Pardesan De was released in 2002 and reached the Top 10 on BBC Radio UK. Bohemia is widely regarded as the first Punjabi rapper and for releasing one of the earliest Punjabi rap albums. He later performed the title track for the Warner Bros film Chandni Chowk to China and appeared in the movie alongside actors including Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone. He has been credited as a singer, rapper, songwriter, poet and record producer.

Public profile
Bohemia is known by the stage names Bohemia and Raja. Physically, he is listed at approximately 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall and around 70 kg (154 lbs), with black hair and black eyes. Body measurements are noted in some profiles but are not material to his artistic contributions.

His musical influences and favourites include poets and singers from South Asia and beyond. He has cited poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Mirza Ghalib and Allama Iqbal, and has named Nas (Nasir Jones) as a favourite rapper. He has also expressed admiration for singers including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Noor Jahan, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan and K.S. Chithra.

Controversies and public positions
Bohemia has been publicly critical of the style of other artists in the South Asian pop and rap scenes. He expressed disapproval of Yo Yo Honey Singh’s approach to rap, saying that Honey Singh’s style did not align with his view of authentic rap.

Personal life
Roger David holds American nationality and lists San Francisco as his hometown. He married Sunny David in November 2015. As of the information provided, they did not have children. He has one sister. He has been open about personal habits such as smoking and drinking.

Latest updates
Bohemia continues to be referenced as a foundational figure in Punjabi rap because of his early work and the 2002 release that reached international attention. His role in film music and appearances in Bollywood productions have kept him visible beyond the underground hip-hop scene.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Bohemia (Rapper), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Vich Pardesan De

Independent debut album presenting Punjabi rap narratives about life as a Desi youngster adapting to the United States. Reached the Top 10 on BBC Radio UK in 2002.

2002
Title track for Chandni Chowk to China

Performed the film’s title track and appeared in the Warner Bros film.

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Career Highlights

  1. Considered the first Punjabi rapper
  2. Released the Punjabi rap album Vich Pardesan De in 2002, which reached the Top 10 on BBC Radio UK
  3. Performed and appeared in the Warner Bros film Chandni Chowk to China
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Bohemia (Rapper) born?

Bohemia (Rapper) was born on 15 October 1979.

What is Bohemia (Rapper) known for?

Bohemia (Rapper) is known for singer, Rapper, Musician.

What is Bohemia (Rapper)’s marital status?

Bohemia (Rapper)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Bohemia (Rapper) married to?

Bohemia (Rapper) is publicly listed as married to Sunny David.